"I know about many mothers who were shivering thinking how they could do harm to their child and could not talk about this problem because they thought they would not be understood. There are many deeply hidden things in human nature, and I would personally prefer being a child of the mother who is struggling with internal conflicts of a human being, to the one for whom everything is easy and simple, who knows the answers to all questions and who never doubts anything."

Donald Woods Winnicott

Pregnancy is the time of change. The growing and developing foetus causes the woman's body to undergo profound hormonal, emotional and physical changes. Joy and happiness about the miracle of new life can be as intense as anxiety, sadness or fear. Depression and anxiety are not only a postnatal problem, but also occur during pregnancy.

Unresolved birth injury can negatively affect your relationship with your partner and the ability to create bond with your newly born baby. Although the society tends to say: "At least you have a healthy child," it can be frightening when the birth of your child does not go according to the plan.

Many mothers experience "baby blues" after childbirth, which passes over time. But sometimes it is more than "baby blues". Postpartum depression is a form of depression and anxiety that develops within the first six months after the childbirth and affects 15% to 20% of women.

Losing a child, whether by miscarriage, delivering a dead child (after 20 weeks) or another loss of a newly born baby, can be unbearable. Although miscarriage is common - about 1 in 6 pregnancies ends before 12 weeks - it remains a traumatic experience.

Perinatal psychotherapy begins with a 50-minute consultation. Sessions usually take place once a week. The whole process may last from few to a dozen or so weeks, depending on the previous arrangements. A child under the age of 10 can accompany his or her mother during the session.